Jurgen Klopp took aim at the match officials on Sunday after Liverpool dropped two points in a pulsating 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in London.
The high-octane clash was one of the most thrilling fixtures of the campaign so far, though the game was littered with controversial moments – the majority of which went against Liverpool, according to their irate manager.
“I have no idea what his problem is with me,” said German coach Jurgen Klopp about the game’s referee Paul Tierney, who he approached after the full-time whistle.
“That is two wrong decisions from him and one right – all three against us.”
Liverpool had a good case for a penalty turned down when Portuguese forward Diogo Jota was bundled over in the area and Klopp was shown a yellow card by Paul Tierney following his animated protestations about the decision on the touchline.
“Mr Tierney told me Diogo stops on purpose because he wants the foul. First and foremost, if you want to shoot you have to stop because you cannot do both,” said Klopp, adding: “It is incredible. He had the best spot on the pitch and doesn’t give it.
“When you see the situation back, the VAR is there. Why is he stopping? I don’t understand.”
On being booked, Klopp said: “You will have to ask him what his problem is with me.
“I was a bit more emotional in the game but the referee gives me a yellow card – but it is not allowed in a situation like this? He comes over and gives me a yellow card but I’d have preferred the right decisions on the pitch.”
?️ “I really have no idea what’s his problem with me.”
Jurgen Klopp reacts to #LFC‘s draw at Tottenham and expresses his frustration at the refereeing in the game. pic.twitter.com/5J7y1unOiu
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL)
Kane avoids a red
Harry Kane was also lucky to avoid a dismissal when he lunged in with his studs showing on Andy Robertson – another decision that baffled Klopp.
“That is a clear, absolutely 100% red card. I just need to ask two people, Mr Tierney and whoever was the VAR. Harry should not have been on the pitch in the second half and then tell me how the game goes.
“This situation, if Andy Robertson’s leg is still on the ground his leg is broken. We all agree on that. It is still a red card but the ref saw it differently.”
Later in the second half, Scottish leftback Robertson was dismissed himself after a wild swing at Spurs defender Emerson Royal.
On Robertson’s red card, Klopp said: “It’s not the harshest ever but it is not the smartest as well; he knows that, he is a really good boy but he lost it a little bit.
“This red card you can give, but is there proof that the VAR was there today because before that we thought he might not be in his office because of the two other situations.”
On referee Tierney’s overall performance on Sunday, Klopp didn’t hold back, saying: “You don’t need a ref that helps you. You need a ref who is clear and objective. In three decisive decisions, he was once right and that was with Robbo, and twice wrong. All three were against us.”